By the time I turned 18, it’s fair to say that I had grasped a full understanding of Cost versus Quality regarding all matters of finances; on top of that, mom always said “Buy cheap, Buy Twice”
So it wasn’t my snobbish ways why I have always resented bargains or cheap deals. I avoided and resented anything cheap because experience had taught me that when it’s cheap, the quality is usually poor and being disappointed in its promised result was inevitable.
So the first time I booked an EasyJet flight. I should have not been surprised about the quality of service which was received at the check-in counter.
Wanting to be punctual for my first EasyJet flight, I made sure that I was at the airport, even before the check-in clerk arrived to open her counter and as expected, a queue of people were behind me later on.
But my punctuality only awarded me to be first in the line to deal with an obnoxious Check-in clerk who seemed as if she hated her job and could not care less about the passengers, I remembered it like it was just yesterday, flying from Zurich Airport to London Gatwick. After the ordeal with her, I then had to travel to what seemed like the outskirt of Zurich’s airport, to the aircraft. As if that was not annoying enough, the passengers ran like they were running for cover, towards the aircraft; it took me a while to realize that they knew something that I weren’t aware of.
Cheap ticket with EasyJet meant non-allocated seats, no on-board snacks and no warm hospitality.
On top of that experience, after exiting the aircraft in London Gatwick, I realized that I’d forgotten my favourite hat on the seat, where I sat. Needless to say that EasyJet made no attempt to find it and I had no other choice than to take the blatant loss.
After that disappointed experience, surely I swore to never fly with EasyJet again, like I said, mom always say, “Buy cheap, Buy Twice.”
So years followed and with my travels in Europe, I flown with Swiss Air, KLM and a few others. Deals and offers were sometimes given, but never to be considered cheap, hospitality and the appreciation of choosing them were always apparent, and flights included meals, snacks and drinks (hot and cold beverages).
Last month, a friend of mine flew with EasyJet to Greece and praised the airline for being cheap and good (Hmm, cheap and good, to me, never logically go together); he even informed me of the new ‘Allocated Seating’ now offered by EasyJet. Of course, I responded with a ‘Wow!’ “You should try it” he said “It’s really value for money!”
So when I had to go to London on a very short notice, especially after just returning from my holidays, my finances weren’t in the best of shape to afford another luxury flight, hotel and taxis. It was now an opportunity to go against my block for EasyJet and accept my friend’s recommendation to fly with what he called, the new EasyJet.
I hesitantly booked the flight online and read closely, all the terms and conditions, and felt somewhat comfortable. My flight date arrived and again, I was first in line, before the Check-in Clerk arrived. When she arrived, she look at the waiting queue, but with no real facial expressions of delight or resentment. I was then told that my bag could be either check-in luggage or cabin luggage; I actually had a choice and it was free of cost. As I was going to be lingering around the airport for another two hours, I chose to check in my bag, which weighed 9 kilograms.
Considering that I had flown with EasyJet years before, everything that reminded me of the last experience, made me a little nervous, so when we had to journey to the farthest part of the airport again, I was slightly on edge, but the allocated seating did ease my anticipation of discomfort. The aircraft was clean and the Steward and Stewardesses were friendly and professional and the Pilot was very informative.
That was Zurich to London.
On my way back wasn’t so simple, it was like a blast from the past, except the last obnoxious clerk was about 40 years old, and this clerk was young enough to be my daughter, I doubt if she was older than 25 years old. After approaching her counter, other than saying hello, every other word that came out of her mouth was with an attitude. She even referred to me as ‘dude’. It was as if I was an ex-boyfriend of hers, who had a bad break up, and she found the opportunity to lash out her grief.
She suggested a Thirty Pounds charge for my bag of 9 kilograms, which I objected to, with the indication that the very same bag arrived in the UK with me, free of charge. After showing her proof of that fact, her defence was that, in Switzerland my bags were handled by Swissport, who are not affiliated with London Gatwick, and at London Gatwick, I am required to pay Thirty Pounds, she further added that because it was a full flight, I did not have an option of carrying on my bag.
What should have routinely been a 5 minutes counter transaction was lengthening with aggravation. I caught myself by realizing that I was dealing with a youngster, who probably is just learning how to use eyeliner pencils and lipsticks and who probably were employed based upon her ignorance.
She verbally said, “Dude, you are flying budget…” which actually reminded me of what mom said, “Buy cheap, By Twice.”
I was flying with EasyJet, a budget airline, what did I expect?
I compared it to my stay at the Hyatt Regency where I was treated as if my money was appreciated to when I stayed at a cheap Bed and Breakfast, only to find a used condom in the bathroom.
I paid EasyJet the Thirty Pounds before saying, “It won’t make any real financial difference to either of us!”
Paying Thirty Pounds was a worthy price for ridding EasyJet off my chosen airline list (again). I endured the flight back to Zurich, with the aid of my music and headphones to blank out any other activities that was likely to be experienced.
And when we landed in Zurich, I was relieved.
Bleeding Pen 